Annual Report Foundation 2010

Safer Sidewalks
in California
Safe, usable sidewalks are crucial to
the abilities of people to shop, meet
friends, go to work or seek medical
care—especially if they do not drive.
Thanks to the skilled attorneys on the
AARP Foundation Litigation team, the
state of California will begin removing
barriers that have made it difficult for
pedestrians to access crosswalks and
sidewalks.

California owns the roadways that become “Main Street” as they pass through cities and towns. Many are dangerous. More than 10,000 of the intersections there do not have curb ramps. Many sidewalks have broken pavement. Dangerous objects protrude into the path of travel.

Alleviating Suffering in Haiti After a 7.0 magnitude earthquake devastated Haiti on January 12, AARP Foundation raised $1.4 million to help elderly earthquake victims there. Thanks to an online fundraising campaign and rapid responses generated by social media, the Foundation raised $877,000 for the Haiti Relief Fund in a fraction of the time it would have taken with traditional appeals. AARP matched the first $500,000 in donations dollar-for-dollar, and the UnitedHealth Group Foundation matched the rest of the contributions with its own donation.

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As a result, wheelchair-bound Ben Rockwell was forced to ride in the street, or trip over steep curb ramps. Trees and signs that extend onto sidewalks injured vision-impaired Dmitri Belser; he also bumped into turning cars at intersections where there are no warnings.

Funds raised for the AARP Foundation Haiti Relief Fund were provided to HelpAge USA to support the on-the-ground work in Haiti of its parent organization, HelpAge International. As a result, food, shelter and medical care were provided to thousands of elderly victims, many of whom were too frail to walk—or wait much longer—for help.

When the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) refused to remove the barriers, AARP Foundation Litigation joined with two disability rights groups to challenge the decision—and won. More than $1.1 billion will be allocated over 30 years to make moving around communities safer by enhancing sidewalk safety.

The $1.4 million raised by AARP Foundation’s Haiti Relief Fund helped support on-the-ground efforts to alleviate seniors’ distress following Haiti’s devastating earthquake.